Sept. 19, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State women's soccer team fell to Dartmouth on Sunday afternoon, 1-0, at Jeffrey Field.
Despite holding an enormous shot advantage (28-9), Penn State (2-6-1) could not find the back of the net on a sunny Jeffrey Field. Dartmouth took its one opportunity on net and made it, while PSU's many opportunities went just missed the frame or were met by goalkeeper Colleen Hogan (two saves).
Dartmouth (2-3-1) capitalized on a Penn State miscue when Marina Moschitto slipped inside of her defender on a Peyton Tata crossing attempt and slotted home a shot from eight yards away to the near post in the 60th minute. Moschitto's goal proved to be the game-winner as PSU couldn't find an equalizer.
The Nittany Lions got off to a quick start offensively, registering the first four shots of the game, which included excellent chances by Taylor Schram (Canonsburg, Pa.) and Maddy Evans (Glenside, Pa.) in the first 12 minutes.
Penn State's best chance to score came in the 56th minute when an early ball played to the center of the field was headed by Dartmouth defender Erin Fleischli back to Hogan who had to make a sprawling save to keep the game scoreless.
Penn State nearly equalized in the 66th minute when Tani Costa (Honolulu, Hawaii) sprung free from her defender 10 yards from net and beat Hogan to the far post, but the shot skimmed just wide. In the previous sequence, O'Dea ripped a shot from 18 yards out that Krissy Tribbett (Centennial, Colo.) was able to corral and set up the Costa chance.
In a flurry of chances, Christine Nairn (Arnold, Md.) clanked one off the crossbar from 20 yards out and Jess Rosenbluth (Gladwyne, Pa.) had a pair of chances blocked from close range in the 73rd minute.
In the 86th minute, Maya Hayes (West Orange, N.J.) gathered a long ball 25 yards from net and was fouled just outside the penalty area. Nevertheless, Nairn's free kick attempt was shot into the wall and the danger averted for Dartmouth.
The Nittany Lions complete their three-game homestand and open the Big Ten season when they host Michigan State on Sunday, Sept. 26 at 1:00 p.m. The game will air live on BigTenNetwork.com with Tom Ferguson and Tom Hannifan on the call.
For complete coverage of Penn State women's soccer, please visit http://www.GoPSUsports.com/sports/w-soccer.
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--NITTANY LIONS--